Underclass Hero (song)

"Underclass Hero" is the first single from Sum 41's fourth studio album of the same name. The song impacted radio on May 15, 2007.[1] The song in its entirety was leaked on April 23 from a 91X podcast interview with Deryck Whibley. It was confirmed on Sum 41's official site that this would be the opening track for the album. The song was used in the EA Sports video game Madden 08 and Sony's NBA 08.[2] It is the band's first single since the departure of guitarist Dave Baksh.

This article is about the song. For the album, see Underclass Hero.
"Underclass Hero"
Single by Sum 41
from the album Underclass Hero
ReleasedMay 15, 2007 (2007-05-15)
RecordedNovember 6, 2006 - March 2007
Studio
Ocean Way Studios and Sage & Sound Studios (Hollywood)
Sound City Studios (Van Nuys)
GenrePop punk
Length3:16
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Deryck Whibley
Sum 41 singles chronology
"No Reason"
(2005)		 "Underclass Hero"
(2007)		 "Walking Disaster"
(2007)
Music video
"Underclass Hero" on YouTube

Overview

"Underclass Hero" was written by Whibley in 2003 with a theme of "us against them", similar to their previous lyrics. Although "Underclass Hero" is written from a different angle, the song refers prominently to society and the struggle of "high-class versus the underclass" instead of "youth against adults" as in All Killer No Filler. The song also uses the more classic punk-rock themes of anti-establishment. This is the theme song for MTV's Crash My School. The song's intro is similar to the band's previous single, "Handle This", but with certain modifications in the notes and tuning.

The chorus of "Underclass Hero" reuses the chorus from the unfinished version of "No Reason", that originally appeared on the band's 2004 album Chuck and was released as a bonus track, titled "Subject to Change".

Critical reception

Andrew Blackie of PopMatters cited the song as an example of "on[e of] those rare occasions when the trio do shut up and honestly play with as much zest as they can muster, which can thus be spoken about with half-hearted approval".[3] Dave de Sylvia of Sputnikmusic compared the song to "Fat Lip", referring to it as a "less rhythmic variation".[4]

Music video

Sum 41's video for “Underclass Hero” was premiered May 29, 2007, on their official website. It shows the band playing behind a large group of teenagers, fireworks, a marching-band and bonfire, supposedly a pre-high school pep rally for a football game with a mascot, which represented the anarchy symbol. The video was launched worldwide on May 31, 2007, on Total Request Live on MTV. The video was co-directed by Marc Klasfeld and Sum 41's drummer, Steve Jocz. This is Sum 41's first video without their former guitarist Dave Baksh, who had left the band the previous year, but returned in 2015.

The music video garnered Sum 41 a nomination at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan in the category for Best Group Video.

Track listings and formats
  1. "Underclass Hero"  – 3:14
  2. "This Is Goodbye"  – 2:28
  3. "March of the Dogs"  – 3:09
  4. "Road to Run #4" (Webisode)
  5. "Underclass Hero" (Video)

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Underclass Hero album liner notes.[6]

Charts
Chart performance for "Underclass Hero"
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 76
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 33
Canada Rock (Billboard)[9] 8
Germany (Official German Charts)[10] 76
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 188
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[11] 16
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 34

References
  1. "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. May 8, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  2. Magrino, Tom (29 June 2007). "Madden 08 drafts song list". GameSpot. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  3. "Sum 41: Underclass Hero - PopMatters". 21 August 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  4. "Sum 41 - Underclass Hero - Sputnikmusic". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  5. Underclass Hero (European CD single liner notes). Sum 41. Island Records. 2007. 602517422544.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. Underclass Hero (Inlay cover). Sum 41. Island. 2007. B0008987-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 271.
  8. "Sum 41 Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. "Sum 41 Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard.
  10. "Sum 41 – Underclass Hero" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  11. "Sum 41 Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  12. "Sum 41 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
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